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South Carolina: phone-while-driving laws

Whether you can hold a phone while driving, whether texting is banned, and the extra limits on new drivers.

Single detailed source
Handheld phone banYes, all drivers (from Sept. 2025; tickets from March 2026)
Texting ban for all driversYes, primary
All phone use banned for new driversNo

Primary means police can stop you for this alone; secondary means only alongside another violation. Many cities add their own rules, and commercial drivers face federal limits.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Exceptions can apply. Confirm with the state agency, the court or a licensed professional in South Carolina.

How South Carolina compares

34 of 51 states and DC share this answer (Yes): Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.

Alaska: NoAKMaine: Yes, all drivers (primary)MEVermont: Yes, all drivers (primary)VTNew Hampshire: Yes, all drivers (primary)NHWashington: Yes, all drivers (primary)WAIdaho: Yes, all drivers (primary)IDMontana: NoMTNorth Dakota: NoNDMinnesota: Yes, all drivers (primary)MNIllinois: Yes, all drivers (primary)ILWisconsin: Work zones onlyWIMichigan: Yes, all driversMINew York: Yes, all drivers (primary)NYRhode Island: Yes, all drivers (primary)RIMassachusetts: Yes, all drivers (primary)MAOregon: Yes, all drivers (primary)ORNevada: Yes, all drivers (primary)NVWyoming: NoWYSouth Dakota: NoSDIowa: Yes, all drivers (primary; tickets from 2026)IAIndiana: Yes, all drivers (primary)INOhio: Yes, all drivers (primary)OHPennsylvania: Yes, all drivers (from June 2025)PANew Jersey: Yes, all drivers (primary)NJConnecticut: Yes, all drivers (primary)CTCalifornia: Yes, all drivers (primary)CAUtah: NoUTColorado: Yes, all drivers (from 2025)CONebraska: NoNEMissouri: Yes, all drivers (secondary)MOKentucky: NoKYWest Virginia: Yes, all drivers (primary)WVVirginia: Yes, all drivers (primary)VAMaryland: Yes, all drivers (primary)MDDelaware: Yes, all drivers (primary)DEArizona: Yes, all drivers (primary)AZNew Mexico: NoNMKansas: NoKSArkansas: School and work zones onlyARTennessee: Yes, all drivers (primary)TNNorth Carolina: NoNCSouth Carolina: Yes, all drivers (from Sept. 2025; tickets from March 2026)SCDistrict of Columbia: Yes, all drivers (primary)DCOklahoma: Learner and intermediate drivers onlyOKLouisiana: Yes, all drivers (primary only in school and work zones)LAMississippi: NoMSAlabama: Yes, all drivers (secondary)ALGeorgia: Yes, all drivers (primary)GAHawaii: Yes, all drivers (primary)HITexas: School zones and school property onlyTXFlorida: School and work zones onlyFL
  • Yes (34)
  • School and work zones only (2)
  • Learner and intermediate drivers only (1)
  • No / other (14)

Also for South Carolina: Car insurance by state in South Carolina · Claim deadlines in South Carolina · Small claims limits in South Carolina · Total loss rules in South Carolina · Shared fault rules in South Carolina · Accident reporting rules in South Carolina · Lemon law rules in South Carolina · Sales tax rates in South Carolina · Motorcycle helmet laws in South Carolina · Gas tax in South Carolina · Uninsured drivers in South Carolina · Marijuana laws in South Carolina · All South Carolina rules on one page

How we checked this

Laws come from the Governors Highway Safety Association's state-by-state distracted driving pages, which state highway safety offices review, including the 2025 Pennsylvania and South Carolina laws. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site   Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data   Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.